Vehicle spring rearching means



Oct. 20, 1953 A. R. HELLWIG 2,656,181

VEHICLE SPRING REARCHING MEA NS Filed Dec. 26, 1950 fidezior:

Patented Oct. 20, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VEHICLE SPRING REARCHING MEANS- August R. Hellwig, Glendale, Calif. Application December 26, 1950, Serial No. 202,593

9 Claims. (01. 267-48) This invention relates to vehicle springs and particularly to an improved form of reinforcement for leaf type vehicle springs.

In many vehicles employing leaf type springs for mounting the body structure on the axles of the vehicle, it is desired to strengthen the springs so that heavier loads may be carried without danger of Spring breakage or so that easier riding qualities may be realized under conditions of heavy load. Additionally, in some cases, the

road conditions under which a vehicle is customarily used are such as to make the use of Another object of the invention is to provide a reinforcing and arch increasing means for leaf type vehicle springs which may be adjustably stressed incident to installation with resultant variation in the riding qualities of the vehicle to suit the desires of individual drivers.

A further object of the invention is to provide a reinforcing and arch increasing means for leaf type vehicle springs which may be installed to operate within the path of movement of the spring to which it is attached.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a reinforcing and arch increasing means for leaf type vehicle springs which is simple in construction, economical to manufacture, easy to install, and reliable in use.

With the above objects in view, together with such additional objects and advantages as may subsequently appear, the invention resides in the parts, and in the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts disclosed, by way of example, in the following specification of certain representative modes of execution and application of the invention; reference being had to the accompanying drawings which form a part of said specification and in which drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the rear end of a vehicle chassis and springs showing the application of the inventionto underslung springs,

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is an exploded view of the component parts of the invention for application to one end of a vehicle spring,

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side elevation of a vehicle chassis showing the application of the invention to a, vehicle spring extending longitudinally of the vehicle and mounted on top of the vehicle axle, and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary end elevation of a vehicle chassis showing the application of the invention to vehicle springs disposed transversely to the vehicle.

Referring first to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, there is shown in Fig. 1 a vehicle chassis comprising an axle A and a frame structure including side members F and F yieldingly mounted on the axle by a pair of semi-elliptic multiple leaf springs S and S which springs at their mid points are secured to the underside of the axle A by pairs of U-bolts U, U which extend over the axle at each side of the spring and which beneath the spring are interconnected by cross bars C, C secured thereon by nuts N and thus clamp the spring to the underside of the axle A. The ends of the springs curve outwardly and upwardly and the forward ends of the springs are pivotally connected to brackets B and B depending from the frame members F and F, while the rear ends of the springs are connected to the frame members by shackle links L and L ,to allow for longitudinal changes in the distance between the ends of the springs incident to flexing,

The invention comprises a spring steel bar i which is of substantially the same widthas the vehicle spring on which it is used and preferably of the same or slightly greater thickness than the leaves comprising the vehicle spring. It comprises an anchor portion 2 having an outturned end 3 from which it curves outwardly in the same direction as the end 3 toward a point 4 at about the mid length of the bar at which point it is bent sharply at approximately an equal but opposite angle from which it extends in a long shallow curve 5 to the active end 6 terminating in a shallow U-bend '1 adapted to be connected to the spring in the manner to be later described.

To apply the bar to a vehicle spring of the type shown in Fig. l, the bar is positioned on the top of the spring with the anchor portion thereof positioned adjacent the axle and it is clamped to the spring by a U-bolt 8 and its cross bar 9 which U-bolt extends around the spring assembly with the leg portions Iii thereof extending through holes in the cross bar and engaged by nuts ll threaded thereon. As here shown, the cross bar extends across the face of the anchor portion of the bar I but it will be apparent that tratediorm, the sprin S2 is inverted and is connected at b'othen'ds to the axleAZ by shackle 4 identified by' similar letters with the addition of the exponent 2.

While in the foregoing specification there have been disclosed certain embodiments of the inend thereof will be positioned a considerable dis- 5 vention, it is appreciated that still other adaptatance away from the end of the spring as inditions of the principles of the invention will sugcated inndottedlines in Fig. W 'Ifheactive end gest themselves to others skilled in the art in of the bar is then'sprung toward 'thezspring unthe lightnf: the above disclosure. Therefore, til the mid point of the curved portion 5 of the the invention is not to be limited to the exact bar contacts the spring and it is then secured forms so disclosed but it is to be understood that to the end of the longest leaf only of the spring it includes all such modifications in the parts by a U-bolt l2, the center section git-oi; ng in, the construct combination, and arengages the U-bend "I and the cross barelement rangement of parts as shall come within the M of which extends across the lower surface of purview o'fthe appended claims. the spring end and is securedron the legs [fi -of 1 clainiz the U-bolt by nuts 16. A second bar I is similar- 1 In a reinforcing means for :a multiple leaf 1y attached to the opposite end of the spring and type-of semi-elliptic vehicle spring a pair of a corresponding pair of bars l is also attached spring metal bars each having one end thereof -to the other-vehicle ,spring. eAs thus mounted, anchored totheconcave side of 'the springadthe-activeends;.of ithegbars: I: exert;.forces ,op- -iacent the-mid-point of the spring and extend- "posingthe loadon the:springsiineaddition.to-lthe ing from their points of anchorage, toward the resistance to that load oiferedwby thesprings. oppositeends ,ofthe spring, respectively, and Also by drawing up on the-nuts: It and thus eachofsaidbars terminating iii a fle l l tending :to straighten outthe. curved portionlfi of tiomspaced from theend of the sprin toward the bar and increasingthezcurvature orarchpof which it extends and intermediate its ends havlth'e spring, the load. resisting. force .exertedby ing a fulcrum-like portion engaging thelconcave the bars can be increased or by loosening! up; on side of the spring,,andadjustablemeans operable 'th'e'se nuts this addeds force can. be decreased. to interconnect the free end of each-offsiaid bars Inzthis mannerthe.loadloapacity. of the veh-icle with the complementary end of the longest leaf *can be variably: increased-to suit individual needs only; of the spring with resultant creation of an :withoutexcessive deflection of the .vehicle increase in the arch and consequentloadf.carrysprings or increas'ein the coefiicient of friction ing capacity of the spring-while. maintaining between the leaves-of :the spring. substantially the original coefiicientof friction Referring .ht t .Fig, 4 thereis illustrated between the spring leaves incident to fiexure of 'another common type of vehicle spring mounting the spring. 7, I i V r with the reinforcing means of :the present in- 12. A reinforcing means for oneend ofa rnul- VentiOh applied thereto; lnit-his'form of the intiple leaf type of semi ellipt ic vehiclespring vention, the spring St is mounted ontop of the comprising a'spring metal bar of isimila r cross axle- A? andzissecured thereto: by a pair of sectional shape to the cross sectional'sl'iapeof -ut-boltseUl whichi extend 'across the spring and 40 the main leaf of the spring said bar atoneend ea'long opposite sides :of theaxle and thence vt e o av n a r po t ciami cdio' t t'th'rough a-lwasher element-Cl having-four holes concave side of the spring adjacent the mid- 'ther'ethrough to be engaged-bymuts Ni on-the length ofvthe spr and thence ei'it di s t =-ends on the Ueboltst-u-The resilient bars which w r o e e d ofthespring and terminatingflin comprise the -invention.- are attached to the a freeend substantially}parallel:tobut'laterally sprirfg by having theanchor portion inserted s ac d omt end oith s; sa a beneathi'the-icenter portions :of-the 'U bolts Ul itw l d b ing n w idlyaw y. o thus eliminating the U-bolts I2 employed in the he. S d f t e. S i g from the ai ic'hor 'p'oint first describedw forr'nof the inventiorh These t r f. d e e wa ca u ii i s ringbars, here deSignatd as I-a, r'einforcethe like C C fihfihfi p n a e' e 20 spring -SI in -the same manner as in the first ew rdly t a f ee a d a -bolt means'ex- -ii eseiibed: form of-- the invention and conse- .-'.t .d.ins e n Sa d, e dofsaie barf and q'uently-allsimilar parts have been identified by ti e on l il Qi pring op b e to the sai'n'e numeralswiththe addition of the d w= aid. e ai i g i f'w h *letter a and" repetition of the'mod'e'of installa- Sultani Increase in thee-W am cq is i' d tion and of operation is omitted as being uni bi Q3 einforce findbf'fih'bfihg n'e'essary while maintainingsubstantiallyitheoriginal cm In Fig. 5,'the invention is shown applied to a 1 m of Q Q P wte 12 sprih av'esintransversely disposed spring such as is commonly (dent u "p l 1 .i

used at the frontend of vehicles. In the illus- 0' r A s n Q meansvforza 9 cluding in ;combination an axl e, e treme and a .i-mu ltiple leaf 's eini-relliptic spring i tereonneeting th e axle and frame; said reinforcing niea'ns 3. Whlcp r m tum n e d to bracket v comprising aqpairof fiat spring metal bars each -ar rns B2 carriedby the axle. .The center of the havm e g, onetendthereof clamped to the concave sn g 1S q ns o a cross m er Q the side not the spring adjacent the mid length of V 10f uiholt-s the cross v the spring with, said bars extending inqonposite bars C2 of whlch ar m d to clamp the :directionsrespectively towardiopposite ends of .anchorasportionsn 1in O the p mg reinforcing the spring and terminating free end-portions ibars' lb against thelower face of the sp g S 7 Jspac'edfrom the spring endsfbutlcontained in a The mode of operation and of installation is plane containing the path of motion of the spring I similar to the previously described-forms Whlfi- .1 ends; each of saidbars between its midlength nn-e allsimilar parts of the inventicmare identiand said. free end heme shaped p0 pi onid- 3 m r-fied by "the same numbers with-the addition of crum-like contact the concave sidegof thespring the letter b while similar vehicle parts are and thence being bent outwardly away from the spring, and a pair of U-bolts each interconnecting one of the free ends of said bars and the complementary end of the longest leaf only of the spring operable to adjustably draw said free ends toward the spring with resultant creation of a bias in the bar in opposition the load responsive fiexure of the spring and resultant increase in the arch and consequent load carrying capacity of the spring while maintaining substantially the original coeilicient of friction between the spring leaves incident tofiexure of the spring. 7

4. A spring reinforcing means for a vehicle including in combination an axle, a frame and a multiple leaf semi-elliptic spring arranged to yieldingly mount the frame on the axle; said reinforcing means comprising a spring metal bar similar in cross section to the cross section of the main leaf of the spring, means clamping one end of said bar to the concave side of the spring adjacent the mid-length thereof; said bar extending from said clamped end toward one end of the spring and terminating in a free end spaced from and disposed adjacent to one end of the spring; said bar bein shaped to contact the concave side of the spring only at said firstnamed end and at a point between the midlength of the bar and the free end thereof, a U-bolt embracing said free end of said bar and the end of the longest leaf only of the spring operable to adjustably draw said free end toward the spring end with resultant creation of an increased arch in the spring and a spring bias in the bar opposing the load responsive flexure of the spring, and a similar but oppositely disposed bar and U-bolt extending from the midlength to the opposite end of the spring while maintaining substantially the original coefficient of friction between the spring leaves incident to fiexure of the spring.

5. The combination with a multiple leaf type of semi-elliptic vehicle spring of reinforcing means; said means comprising a pair of spring metal bars similar in cross section to the cross section of the main leaf of said spring; means connecting one end of each of said bars to the concave side of said spring adjacent the midlength of said spring with the bars-extending toward opposite ends of said spring; said bars terminating in end portions spaced from said spring and each bar between its ends being bent to form a spring contacting point disposed between the free end thereof and the mid-length of said bar, and means adjustably connecting the free ends of the bars with the complementary ends of the longest leaf only of said spring and effective to create a bias in said bars opposing the load responsive fiexure of said sprin with resultant variable increase in the arch and consequent load carrying capacity of said spring while maintaining substantially the original coefiicient of friction between the spring leaves incident to fiexure of the spring.

6. In an arch increasing means for a multiple leaf type of semi-elliptic vehicle spring a pair of spring metal bars each having one end thereof anchored to the concave side of the spring adjacent the mid-point thereof and to extend from the point of anchorage toward the ends of the spring and each of said bars terminating in a free end portion spaced from the end of the spring toward which it extends and intermediate its ends having a portion engaging the concave side of the spring,and adjustable means operable to interconnect the free end of each of said bars with the complementary end of the longest leaf only of the spring with resultant creation of an increase in the load carrying capacity of the spring; said adjustable means comprising a pair of U-bolts one at the free end of each of said bars disposed with the center portion thereof engaging the outer face of the free end of the bar and with the leg portions extending along the sides of the bar and spring, each of said U-bolts having a cross bar member through which the leg portions thereof extend and a nut on each leg portion of each U-bolt operable to draw the U-bolt through said cross bar.

'7 A spring arch increasing means for avehicle includin in combination an axle, a frame and a multiple leaf semi-elliptic spring interconnecting the axle and frame; said arch increasing means comprising a pair of fiat spring metal bars each having one end thereof clamped to the concave side of the spring adjacent the mid-length thereof with said bars extending in opposite directions respectively toward opposite ends of the spring and terminating in free end portions spaced from the spring ends but contained in a plane containing the path of motion of the spring ends; each of said bars between its mid-length and said free end being shaped to contact the concave side of the spring and thence being bent outwardly away from the spring, and a pair of U-bolts each interconnecting one of the free ends of said bars and the complementary end of the longest leaf only of the spring operable to adjustably draw said free ends toward the spring with resultant creation of a bias in the bar in opposition the load responsive fiexure of the spring and resultant increase in the arch and consequent load carrying capacity of the spring; the free ends of each of said bars having a shallow U-shaped bend extending transversely of the length of the bar and positioned with the concave side thereof on the side of the bar remote from the spring and adapted to be engaged by the U-bolt associated with that bar.

8. A spring arch increasing means for a vehicle including in combination an axle, a frame and a multiple leaf semi-elliptic spring interconnect-- ing the axle and frame; said arch increasing means comprising a pair of flat sprin metal. bars each having one end thereof clamped to the concave side of the spring adjacent the midlength thereof with said bars extending in opposite directions respectively toward opposite ends: of the spring and terminating in free end portions spaced from the spring ends but contained in a plane containing the path of motion of the spring ends; each of said bars between its midlength and said free end being shaped to contact the concave side of the spring and thence being bent outwardly away from the spring, and a pair of U-bolts each interconnecting one of the free ends of said bars and the complementary end of the longest leaf only of the spring operable to adjustably draw said free ends toward the spring with resultant creation of a bias in the bar in opposition the load responsive fiexure of the spring and resultant increase in the arch and consequent load carrying capacity of the spring; the free end of each of said bars and the U-bolt associated therewith being so constructed and arranged as to hold the U-bolt against movement endwise of the spring and bar.

9. An arch increasin and reinforcing means for one end of a multiple leaf type of semielliptic vehicle spring comprising a spring metal bar of similar cross sectional shape to the cross a eee lm seetianei shape 91 me niain le -i ef the spring;

the nc r po n e of and thence toward a ipjgo, qqntact with the spring and thence. out:- Werdly t9 said fre end. a d. a -b means e te di be ween said tree nd oi said her and the outer 1101 of the Lengest leaf only o the 59m Operable ta draw said. free end tower-d 15 8 the spring h at w th. the re ulta t increas n the argh and ecrisequjnt lead resistin bi s. or the r inforced end of the s ring: he tree end of said her h vin a an versely d s" seq depression engaged. by the. center portion gr gaid [J =bo1t and effective to prevent movement of said uvqbolt le'hg'thwise of the spring leaf,

AUGUST R. HEILWIG.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,835,134 Bernhardt 1 1 Dec. 8, 1931 2,205,086 Dell -1 June 18,- 1940 

